The Sligo Disabled Person’s Organisation will air six short films at the Model Sligo next week (Tuesday 19 September) to highlight accessibility challenges facing their members.
‘Navigating Ordinary Things’ is a project developed by Sligo DPO in conjunction with Sligo PPN in order to show the lived experience of disabled people in everyday life around Sligo.
The objective of the films is to create awareness in Sligo, showing the barriers that exist through cross impairments.
An example of a physical barrier is buildings not having an accessible entrance, i.e. having steps, therefore a disabled person in a wheelchair is unable to enter the building due to not having a ramp.
“By removing these barriers it will create equality and offer disabled people independence, control and choice. Disability is not the impairment. Disability is the barrier, physical and attitudinal, developed by society that stops or restricts disabled people. Impaired conditions cannot be changed, but society can,” says Mark Kupczak (Chairperson for Sligo DPO).
Speaking ahead of the launch, project manager Peter Kearns (DPO Development Officer), ILMI said, “our singular goal is to remove barriers for those with disabilities in Sligo. The stories shared in these short films highlight serious accessibility challenges and inequality.
“The social model of disability suggests that it’s not just a person’s impairment or condition that makes them disabled, but rather the way society is organised and the physical, social, and attitudinal barriers that exist. By removing these barriers and promoting inclusion, society can empower disabled people to fully participate in all aspects of life.”
